What would I change?
More powerful four-cylinder engine, 4Motion would make it more desirable

How I would spec it?
Passat Comfortline $29,295

The Dieselgate scandal is costing Volkswagen dearly as consumers, righteously indignant, are sidestepping the now-tainted automaker and going elsewhere for their transportation needs. Beyond the decreased sales and the head shot to its reputation, the biggest hit to beleaguered VW is the removal of a key engine throughout most of its product lineup, the very fuel-efficient if not-so-clean 2.0-litre TDI Clean Diesel four-cylinder. Not having this former ace in the hole casts a whole different light on the company’s entire car range, especially when compared with the breadth and depth of the competition.

For those needing a refresher on the Passat, a brief history: Now in its eighth generation, the four-door Passat — in sedan and wagon forms — was formerly an upscale model VW used to compete with the German luxury brands. More than a dozen years ago, I was testing 4.0-litre W8-powered (essentially a combination of two narrow-angle VR4 engine blocks) versions complete with 4Motion all-wheel drive and price tags well over $50,000. For the 2012 model year, though, VW abandoned the Passat’s upscale pretentions in North America, developing a more mainstream, lower-priced, higher-volume family sedan model, one that would go up against the Asian powerhouses — Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, et al — as well as the likes of the Ford Fusion, Chevy Malibu and Chrysler 200.

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It takes a practiced eye to easily discern the differences between the 2016 and 2015 models unless you happen to be a particular fan of the brand. For the record, there’s a new hood, front fenders, grille, front and rear bumpers, trunk lid and available LED headlights and taillights. In other words, the only sheet metal remaining unchanged is the roof, the doors and the body side stamping. The overall changes imbue the car with a more sophisticated — if rather formal — look.

2016 Volkswagen Passat Highline

The engine lineup, save the deletion of the TDI diesel, remains unchanged. Powering most of the Passat lineup is a turbocharged, gasoline-fuelled, 1.8-litre TSI four-cylinder (the top-level Execline trim gets a significantly more robust 3.6-litre V6). This yeoman powerplant pumps out an acceptable — though less than scintillating — 170 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. And, with the VW a lightweight 1,480 kilograms with the TSI engine (for comparison, the Accord Sport recently tested tipped the scale at 1,538 kg), it’s quick enough for a family sedan — zero to 100 km/h in about eight seconds. The four-banger is a growly little unit under acceleration, however, always making its presence known, though it does smooth out at cruising speeds.

You can get a five-speed manual in the entry-level Trendline model ($23,295), but the six-speed Tiptronic automatic is the go-to transmission for the rest of the lineup. The Tiptronic does come with a Sport mode, which does little to change the car’s mild nature other than delay otherwise early upshifts, but at least VW doesn’t compound any farcical notion of the Passat as a sporty sedan by adding paddle shifters. Still, for the budding boy racers out there, there is a manumatic mode offered through the console-mounted gear selector (pushing forward to upshift or pulling back to downshift elicits a satisfyingly crisp response).

2016 Volkswagen Passat Highline

Not that there’s anything particularly special about the sedan’s suspension or steering (struts up front, a multi-link rear and electric power-assist), but kudos anyway for its ride and handling. This is a car with which to take long highway trips, with the promise you will not feel as if you’ve been run over by a dump truck after a half-dozen hours behind the wheel. Conversely, it lacks the sportier precision of its European predecessors.

Inside, the Passat’s upgraded interior includes a new instrument panel and a centre stack incorporating VW’s latest MIB II infotainment system. The system features a touchscreen that enables gesture controls such as swiping and pinch-zooming. All 2016 models also have a rear-view camera as standard equipment.

2016 Volkswagen Passat Highline

The expansive cabin — front- and rear-seat legroom is generous — also features upgraded materials as well as a new flat-bottom steering wheel and column stalk design. Leather seats and heated rear seats are standard on the $33,795 Highline tester, along with a navigation system, 400-watt Fender premium audio system, 18-inch alloy wheels and blind-spot detection with rear traffic alert. The dash area, in particular, is one of the cleanest and most uncomplicated layouts I’ve encountered in a family sedan, with simple wood-like trim adding a classy element to the whole affair.

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In a good year, the Passat significantly trailed its Asian and Detroit rivals, managing to only pull ahead of the likes of the Subaru Legacy and Mazda6. Despite the improvements to the car for 2016, the loss of the TDI engine and the stigma of the Dieselgate scandal are not going to do it any favours sales-wise. Plus there’s the fact that many of the aforementioned rivals are undergoing mid-cycle refreshes — if not new model introductions — of their own. An enjoyable, if rather conventional, car to drive, the Passat’s biggest problem — beyond the corporate drama — is that it’s merely good, when, to get the sales attention it needs, it has to be exceptional.